Diesel against gasoline. Which Mercedes-Benz E-Class is better?

No doubt, the Mercedes-Benz turned out an advanced and comfortable sedan. Is not it going to upset a new two-liter diesel engine or, well, it’s better for gasoline, better gasoline?

In the “Mercedes” is called the current E-Class with the W213 index the smartest production car of the brand. Unless coffee on the road does not pour. New technologies have made their way under the hood of the sedan, where the debut engine of the future modular family is housed – a two-liter diesel. Not too much innovation per square centimeter? Or “yeshka” more will go a proven gasoline engine? Two journalists, two engines, one car. Let us share our impressions of the E-class with different fillings.

Alexey Dmitriev – for diesel E 220 d

Due to what the E-class rides, at first I was unimportant. In general, I did not want to go anywhere. Whether glamorous cinema, or an interactive exhibition of innovative technologies – not completely clear where I am. “Movies” in high quality show two giant “TVs” 12.3 inches inside under one glass surface. In the detailed menu of information is enough for long hours of “digital” wanderings. It seems to me, and for a year the owners will not have time to fully study all the cellars of multimedia. She even helped me to distract from the whimpering of a small child. While fingering the colors of the contour highlight of the cabin, the child calmed down.

In the idyll among the expensive, blissfully pleasant materials, something caused a small dissonance. Why in my version all the adjustments of the seat are electric, and the longitudinal – mechanical? This happens and not in the most empty E-class without the right package.

Optionally more than 200 thousand rubles put together a bunch of electronic assistants. With thrusting, emergency braking, recognition of signs today, you will be surprised only by the driver, who is pleased with the appearance of the ESP at UAZ. Clearly, I began to understand that soon a person at the wheel would become an anachronism when Mercedes drove itself, as soon as I rocked the cruise control lever. In a tightly clogged MKAD, where after the repair did not manage to draw the layout, and instead of virtual five bands, all seven were randomly formed. To the left, in a dangerous vicinity, the garbage truck is treading, on the right is trying to squeeze between me and the jigit bump, so I’m holding my hand at the helm, with distrust, but … This is not necessary. Mercedes rides and that’s all, keeping the set distance to the car ahead. “Eshka” and maneuver begins after him, if only there were no obstacles. In general, not a car, but a dream of a spy or participant in the parade on Red Square.

Now, if only the driver I was aiming at was not so nervous … As one urban scientist told me, in Russia the “tuning factor” is too high. For five minutes I had to ask ten times a new goal for the “yeshki”, and everything is useless. So in the current form of “Mercedes” autopilot is not yet about us. We are waiting for an even more intelligent version for unpredictable roads with psychos.

Fortunately, “about us” a new diesel 220 d in volume of two liters and capacity of 194 hp Effective, clean, frugal! That’s why I have not said a word about the motor so far that it does not give reason to remember its origin. On noise isolation and comfort in the cabin, the presence of diesel does not affect at all. From the inside only on the tachometer you can understand that this “eater” is sitting on the diesel fuel. Well, okay, barely perceptible chirr at the start still gives out. And then – silence and peace without annoying vibrations. Accelerating, I do not feel typical diesel noise at all.

Economies and environmental friendliness of the Mercedes have achieved not revolutionary, but effective methods. The engine with an aluminum cylinder block and a special coating inside to reduce friction is easy and less harmful due to more efficient combustion. Successfully enter into the Euro-6 helped and constructive solutions like the installation of the catalyst directly from the motor. I note that this engine – the debut in the new line of the company. From it, for example, engineers have already made a row “six”, just adding a couple of cylinders.

See also the technical description of the models:

The “four” according to the passport 4.3 liters per hundred, in the realities of our life – in the region of six. Nine-step automatic gives us to race along the track almost at idle. When necessary, will reset a good half of the gears in any driving mode.

Actually, for all my love for the diesel engine, at first I was skeptical towards him. On a sedan of a business class the two-liter unit – whether a little? It turned out that the lack of reserves can be felt only in the sport mode, when the box, the gas pedal, the steering wheel – everything becomes more responsive and adjusts to add more than permitted, go beyond 110-120 km / h and “spur” more … But exactly what reserves , Which, most likely, the owner of a premium business sedan is almost not needed. A consumes “eeshka” and the active owner does not exceed six or seven liters.

And why would he need gas after that?

Dmitry Barinov – for gasoline E 200

Whatever the colleague says about the advantages of the diesel, many of us still treat these versions with caution. Despite the successful experience of service of similar modifications in taxis in many European cities. And the main reason for skeptics is the unstable quality of fuel outside of Moscow. Therefore, to once again not to torment yourself with doubts: refueled with normal diesel or a surrogate, it’s easier to immediately choose a gasoline version. For example, with a basic two-liter motor. For the most economical lovers of large and prestigious German sedans.

Probably, my “eshke” does not make sense to compete on the power reserve and save fuel with a diesel fellow. And why? I was more concerned about the nature of the car: after all, the number of horses in the herd of this engine is quite modest for a large sedan. In addition, maximum power is available only at high revs. In vain doubted: the basic version is reviving a decent torque of 300 Nm, available almost at the “level of the plinth.” The car eagerly “picks up” immediately as you begin to move. And thanks to the nine-speed automatic it is not necessary to untwist the motor without superfluous need. In quiet mode, the tachometer needle relaxes somewhere in the vicinity of two thousand revolutions. Then the motor does not give itself out either by vibrations or noise – this is what I call the real style of the Mercedes. Feeling that you are floating above the road, not paying attention to the quality of asphalt. Air suspension allows you to level all road defects to a sense of improbability. Did it really seem to me? Quite permissible questions, when the first day you go to the E-Class. You seem to be meditating, controlling this machine – the world around is perceived better than it really is.

However, it is necessary to accelerate sharply, as the sounds of a four-cylinder engine, devoid of a hint of refinement, nevertheless penetrate into the salon. Do not rush to criticize – those to whom they cut a hearing, can order an additional acoustic package. In my opinion, absolutely superfluous and senseless waste. After all, you need to understand: a two-liter “house” is not bought in order to break away in full. And yet for a calm and comfortable movement. Although I did “wake up” the car, after dispersing it on the wide “Don” route to almost two hundred. Although even then the delicate automaton tried not to torment the engine. Even in sports mode, acceleration is not at all hurricane, but maximum smooth. This, which almost does not notice the passenger on the back sofa. Of course, if you suddenly do not understand: the change of scenery behind the window is too dynamic. Then casually inquire: “Are we in a hurry?”

And in fact, to hurry up in this car and do not want at all. Colleague conquered multimedia innovations. I really appreciate the “friend” for the comfort – there are not so many comfortable front seats so far that none of the competitors. Now they are “implanted” and lateral active rollers, familiar to owners of representative S-Class. The optimal solution: lateral support manifests itself only in case of need, in corners, without squeezing the body in the usual movement in straight sections.

But we again left the answer to the question. So after all, diesel or gasoline? By the way, as it turned out during the test, the power reserve can not be taken separately when calculating. At my car thanks to the new automatic machine the average expense of gasoline left in area of ​​eight liters on one hundred – it is little more, than at a diesel engine. And I did not choose refueling even far outside the capital. So, maybe, let’s leave the diesel engines to taxi drivers? And we will not fool ourselves.